Open for Business: Culture Counter

Culture Counter
After multiple delays, Culture Counter opened June 2 in the Rountree neighborhood. The 607 E. Pickwick Ave. market and cafe occupies the former space of Homegrown Food, which closed in 2018. Owner Bryce Gott said he took on much of the renovation and infill work himself. That, combined with the coronavirus pandemic, pushed back his opening, originally planned for September 2019. Startup costs exceeded Gott’s original estimate of $125,000 by an undisclosed amount. He is on a three-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Ryan and Amanda Owens, who started Homegrown Food in 2010. Roughly two dozen vendors have products for sale in the market, including Springfield-based Urban Roots LLC and Date Lady Inc. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch, featuring hot food, salad and waffle bars. A walk-up window sells drinks and ice cream. The market employs four, and Gott said he plans to double the workforce within a few weeks.
Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 417-720-1381
Web: CultureCounterCommons.com

Boti Architects LLC
Architecture firm Boti Architects LLC moved to its first permanent office space Feb. 15 at 504 W. College St. The firm is a partnership between longtime architect Bo Hagerman and developer Titus Williams. It launched in August 2019, operating temporarily at 1414 E. Primrose St., Ste. 100, in Williams’ Prosperity Partners LLC office. Boti Architects employs 25, including 10 in the 3,000-square-foot Springfield office, said Hagerman, who serves as managing partner and owns the College Street building. The remaining staff is in the firm’s Rogers, Arkansas, office, which opened in November 2019. Hagerman said roughly $150,000 was invested in startup costs for the Springfield office. Prosperity Construction, a division of Prosperity Partners, was general contractor for the Boti designed office. The firm also plans to occupy a second Springfield office, at 302 W. Commercial St. However, Hagerman said renovation work is on hold, pending approval of historic tax credits.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 877-297-2684
Web: Boti.Studio

Springtown Coffee Co.
Three months after closing, Springtown Coffee Co. reopened June 13 under new ownership. Van and Jess Malter purchased the Galloway Village coffee shop at 3541 S. Lone Pine Ave. for an undisclosed price from previous operators Justin and Allicyn Hollis. The 900-square-foot shop is in a multitenant center across from Sequiota Park. The Hollises started the coffeehouse in April 2019 with Justin’s brother, Brennan, and his wife, Megan, along with 4 by 4 Brewing Co. LLC co-owners Derek and Danielle Shimeall. They closed the business 11 months later. Jess Malter said she and her husband were seeking a first-time business venture and got the idea to purchase Springtown by one of their advisers. Jess is an educator, and Van works for Eastman Chemical Co. and is a member of the Missouri National Guard. She declined to disclose lease terms with landlord Amy Haymes. Springtown’s menu features specialty lattes, coffee drinks, teas and smoothies, as well as pastries and sandwiches.
Hours: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-
5 p.m. Sunday